What are the essential guidelines for creating an effective LinkedIn profile photo?

An effective LinkedIn profile photo should be clear, recent (within the last couple of years), and high-quality with a minimum size of 400 by 400 pixels. Dress professionally or in business casual attire that matches your industry. Your photo should display a friendly, approachable facial expression, ideally with a smile, against a neutral or subtle background. Proper lighting is crucial - positioning yourself in front of a window makes a significant difference. When cropping, ensure your face takes up about 60% of the frame, focusing on the chest or shoulders up. Avoid heavy filters, excessive editing, selfies, and group shots. Having a professional profile photo increases your visibility dramatically, making you 14 times more likely to get profile views and 9 times more likely to receive connection requests.